Republicans who murdered and secretly buried a Co Down teacher more than 30 years ago snuffed out a life of many wholesome qualities, his funeral has heard.

Family and friends of Seamus Ruddy - a “Disappeared” victim of the Northern Ireland Troubles whose remains were recovered in a French forest last month - finally got the chance to say farewell at the service in his home city of Newry.

The ICLVR was set up during the peace process by the UK and Irish governments to find the bodies of those secretly buried, mainly by the IRA, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Three of the 16 Disappeared victims are still to be recovered.

The remains of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac have yet to be found.

Candles representing those three victims were carried to the front of the cathedral at the start of the service.

Prayers were said for their families; for the ICLVR team; and for the individual or individuals who provided the information to the commission that led to the recovery of Mr Ruddy’s body.

Sinn Fein MP Mickey Brady, a childhood friend of Mr Ruddy, was among the hundreds of mourners.

Mr Ruddy was a former member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) - the political wing of the INLA.

It is believed he was murdered amid a dispute with INLA members about an arms dump.

“In the years since his death, Seamus’s family and friends kept a long vigil,” said Bishop McAreavey.

“They grieved and prayed, they appealed for public support, which they hoped would lead to the recovery of his remains.

“They did this with the support of other families of the Disappeared and, in recent years, the support of civil authorities in Ireland and in France.

“In recent years they rejoiced with the families of the Disappeared whose prayers were answered. They continue, as they did at the opening of this mass, to reach out to those families who are still waiting.

“On Thursday, Seamus’s family and friends welcomed him home to Newry.

“They were finally been able to do what they always wanted to do - to have a wake, to celebrate a funeral mass for Seamus and to say a personal and dignified farewell to him through the funeral liturgy.

“And in the months and years ahead they will be able to visit the grave where Seamus lies.”